The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

By: Michael Chabon

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

It's 1939, in New York City. Joe Kavalier, a young artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdiniesque escape, has just pulled off his greatest feat: smuggling himself out of Hitler's Prague. He's looking to make big money, fast, so that he can bring his family to freedom. His cousin, Brooklyn's own Sammy Clay, is looking for a partner in creating the heroes, stories, and art for the latest novelty to hit the American dreamscape: the comic book.

Inspired by their own fantasies, fears, and dreams, Kavalier and Clay create the Escapist, the Monitor, and the otherworldy Mistress of the Night, Luna Moth, inspired by the beautiful Rosa Saks, who will become linked by powerful ties to both men. The golden age of comic books has begun, even as the shadow of Hitler falls across Europe.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is a stunning novel of endless comic invention and unforgettable characters, written in the exhilarating prose that has led critics to compare Michael Chabon to Cheever and Nabokov. In Joe Kavalier, Chabon, writing "like a magical spider, effortlessly spinning out elaborate webs of words that ensnare the reader" (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times), has created a hero for the century.

©2000 Michael Chabon (P)2000 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"Virtuoso Chabon takes intense delight in the practice of his art, and never has his joy been more palpable than in this funny and profound tale of exile, love, and magic." ( Booklist)

"This thoughtful and entertaining work is so well presented by Colacci - even down to the Yiddish accents - that his performance is a truly memorable experience." ( AudioFile)

This is an abridgment

Not identified as such. Why do these even exist anymore in an age of digital delivery?

Abridged, do not buy.

It was my fault. I didn't read that it was abridged. You don't buy a book like this for an abridged version, you save that stuff for books like the DaVinci code.

I'm one of those people who won't even listen to an abridged version. I wish I never would have purchased this.

It was ABRIDGED

Okay, my bad for not realizing what I was buying, but I was super annoyed when the book was over, and I thought, "gee, that was short, and I don't really understand what it was all about." This is why I avoid abridged books and this is a terrible abridgment, don't waste your time.

Couldn’t get into it

The description of this story sounded great but I didn’t listen longer than an hour or two. Couldn’t get a good grasp on the story and was not enjoying the performance. It just wasn’t for me.

Abridgment didn't work

Michael Chabon's writing has an elegant flow that grabs you and carries you into whatever universe he has created. This abridgment interfered with that flow and simply threw out much of what makes Chabon's writing so distinctive. It's a shame, really, because the book was a very good read a few years ago, while I could still see well enough to read. Wish I could say the same about this abridged audiobook version.

Disappointing

This was just plain boring and I am sorry I wasted a credit on it. The characters are not engaging. The reader is OK but I always seemed to be thinking that "this is a reader". My suggestion is that you pick a different book!

Stop! It's a ABRIDGED! Go get the real deal!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

It's abridged. My fault, I didn't notice and clicked the wrong thing. I listened to it all, loved the story and the writing, but did find that there were strange gaps that made it choppy. Now I see that it was abridged, and it all makes sense. I feel a bit robbed - not sure I'll go back and listen to the whole thing, now that I've got the high points, but I would have loved to take it slow and get everything.

What did you like best about this story?

The story. All of it.

What about David Colacci’s performance did you like?

He has a great character voice - he does a nice job with all the accents, and it was never difficult to tell the characters apart. He even does a nice job with the women in the story, which is difficult sometimes for male narrators.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Wistful longing and a sense of hopeful futility.

Any additional comments?

Listen to it, but unabridged.

Only OK

Wish I’d have read more reviews as this is an abridged version. There were times I thought I’d missed sections only to rewind & find I hadn’t. It’s possible an unabridged version would’ve been much more interesting. I enjoyed portions only then to be completely lost a bit later. Absolutely no mentions of new chapters. I did complete the book though.

My first and LAST abridged audiobook!

I "read" this for my book club. Those who read it traditionally, raved about this Pulitzer Prized winning book. The audiobook however was SO abridged that I feel it lost it's way. Don't bother with this abridged audiobook. It's an interesting story and deserves a full telling.

Terrible Abridgement

I was wondering what had happened to Chabon's normally wonderful writing, as things were making no sense and jumping around, when I noticed my mistake: I'd accidentally bought the abridged audiobook. Luckily I have a paper copy so I switched to that; in comparing the two I wonder if the person who did the abridging just randomly scratched out passages. There's no rhyme or reason to it. Stick to the unabridged version.